HJFCI Module Three, REV #2 Conscience Virtues nn.1776-1845 J Michalak 9-09 REV 9-11, 9-12, 9-14, 9-17 PAGE 1 Module Three, Lesson #2: Conscience, Virtues, Gifts CCC nn.1776-1845 Last Two Weeks: Introduction: the catechetical context for catechesis on the Moral Life in Christ 1691-1699 I. The theological context for this catechesis: Man as homo viator in the imago Dei 1700-1715 N.B. presumes the nature of Man (what he is) and Man in the bigger picture of the Journey of salvation history (where he is), all in Parts One & Two of the CCC II. The goal of the moral life in Christ: our vocation to objective Beatitude (Love) 1716-1729 III. The nature of true Freedom to do excellently what ought to do to attain the goal 1730-1748 IV. The nature of free human acts that move us toward (or away from) the goal 1749-1761 Specifically: the symphony of intellect & will in choosing freely in truth for love V. A closer look at our embodiment: the passions & their relation to choosing 1762-1775 This Week: VI. A closer look at judgment of reason in light of truth for choosing freely: conscience 1776-1802 VII. The intrinsic principle of human action that perfects the powers of intellect & will for choosing freely: the cardinal & theological virtues, the gifts & fruits of the Holy Spirit 1803-1845 “The Christian moral life is emphatically not, as too many people mistakenly and unfortunately believe, basically a question of meeting obligations and obeying laws that inhibit human freedom. It is, rather, a matter of striving to become fully the beings God wants us to be, that is, persons who share forever his own divine life and happiness, an end attainable, with the help of God’s never-failing grace, by living a life of excellence, shaped by virtues, rooted in faith and hope, and animated by love.” --William E. May. “Recent Moral Theology: Servais Pinckaers and Benedict Ashley.” The Thomist, vol. 62, no.1 (Jan. 1998) 117. Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas Grant me grace, O Merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly for the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen. Marvelous texts on our topic for today (all available on-line): • John Paul II: Ad limina address to US bishops of Region X, June 27, 1998. • John Paul II: General Audiences on the virtue of Love, October 6, October 13, October 20, 1999. • Cardinal George Pell: “The Inconvenient Conscience,” First Things 153 (May 2005). • Cardinal George Pell: “The Dictatorship of Relativism” (Address to Australian National Press Club, September 21, 2005) • James Stenson: ParentLeadership.com website and any of his books. HJFCI Module Three, REV #2 Conscience Virtues nn.1776-1845 J Michalak 9-09 REV 9-11, 9-12, 9-14, 9-17 PAGE 2 Article VI. A closer looK at judgment of reason in light of truth for choosing freely: conscience 1776-1802 Cardinal John Henry Newman…Gaudium et Spes, 16…Cardinal George Pell Features of Conscience: • What it is not: Jiminy Cricket; Angel on one shoulder, Devil on the other; “Feelings, nothing more than feelings…” (or even guilt or lack of guilt)… • What it is: cum scientia = thinking “with knowledge”…for action - CCC 1778 “A judgment of reason…” - Witness to the truth; witness to the desire for happiness, for the Good & the True; witness to the natural hierarchy of the good & to norms of natural law; witness to one’s own dignity in imago Dei; witness to “possessing oneself”; witness to God’s call… - At the intersection of truth and human action: synderesis “Do good, shun evil…” => most basic precepts of natural law => secondary & tertiary precepts of natural law… • Key feature #1: Because we are made in imago Dei and are responsible for action, conscience is the proximate, most immediate norm for human action. • Rule #1: “You must always follow your conscience” • Key feature #2: Because we are made (contingent) AND fallen, conscience not only cannot determine reality / truth / right & wrong, but it is often mistaken! (cf. n. 1786). Conscience is not infallible! Can be sincerely wrong! Just because I decide something “in conscience” doesn’t make it true and right… • Rule #2: “You must first educate & inform your conscience as fully & excellently as possible in order to always follow it.” (n. 1783) N.B. Rule #2 must be followed first!!!!!!! • Rules of Thumb for following a fallible-and-needs-to-be-informed conscience: (1789) 1) One can never do evil in order to gain a good: the end never justifies the means 2) Golden Rule: “Do unto others what you would wish they do unto you” 3) Do not act against a doubtful conscience: if not sure this is allowed, do not act 4) Charity (the good of the other) prevails: do what most benefits the other, whether or not it is OK for me 5) Integrity & consistency: Do privately as you would publicly. • Vincible ignorance (able to overcome) and Invincible Ignorance (not reasonably able to overcome): i.e, how to assess “But I didn’t know!” (CCC 1790-1793): Note how often we could’ve and should’ve! • Sources for informing and educating conscience (n.b.: weight of sources varies!) (CCC 1783ff) : - Natural Law - Magisterium of Mother Church (cf. CCC 2030-2051) interpreting Sacred Scripture & Tradition (in all its dimensions) including the wisdom of liturgy - The witness of the Apostles, Fathers, Saints, Martyrs…those who Suffer, those of outstanding Virtue HJFCI Module Three, REV #2 Conscience Virtues nn.1776-1845 J Michalak 9-09 REV 9-11, 9-12, 9-14, 9-17 PAGE 3 - Those with expertise in a given area, both theologically and with regard to the specific human sciences and fields of knowledge…always in light of Revelation - Spiritual director & confessor - Prayer and guidance of Holy Spirit - Own prudent experience soberly assessed in light of the above & in light of the Cross of Christ pouring himself out • A primary responsibility of parents: to educate the consciences of their children • A significant responsibility of schools & governors: to educate the consciences of the children • The education of conscience: a lifelong task connected to one’s changing circumstances & vocation & work & career • What if “in conscience, I do not agree with the Church”? - Only the beginning point…of prayer, self-denial, humble study… - Recognize it cuts both ways: the Church does not agree with you. There are consequences to our stance. • The “Examination of Conscience” according to virtues, to one’s state in life and vocation, to deadly (capital) sins, to commandments, to one’s spiritual maturity… Article VII. The intrinsic principle of human action that perfects the powers of intellect & will for choosing freely: the cardinal & theological virtues, the gifts & fruits of the Holy Spirit 1803-1845 • Virtue, habitus = a firm & habitual disposition (skill / capacity) to recognize and choose for the good…consistently, easily, and joyfully—that is, freely. (READ 1804) - CCC 1803: “It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers [intellect & will]; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions. ‘The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God’ [St. Gregory of Nyssa].” - Virtue is thus a quality of character (a quality of soul) that facilitates the achievement / possession of our highest happiness, life with God as friend (having the qualities of God). - On analogous virtues for techne (art) and for intellect (wisdom, understanding, knowledge). Hitting a baseball well…playing violin well…building a ship well…grasping the structure of the atom well…understanding social interactions well… - We are concerned with ACTING WELL (i.e., to attain particular goods within proper order and to attain Greatest Good—to Love as Christ loves, to be as God is). Particular virtues perfect our intellect (clarify), perfect our will (strengthen in right direction), and govern our passions (order, control) according to reason and faith for RIGHT / EXCELLENT ACTION. I don’t “use” virtue. Virtue IS me thinking and willing rightly, excellently, effectively. Virtues free us to love as Christ; virtues are thus the stamp of living in the H. Spirit. HJFCI Module Three, REV #2 Conscience Virtues nn.1776-1845 J Michalak 9-09 REV 9-11, 9-12, 9-14, 9-17 PAGE 4 • Four Human / Moral / Cardinal Virtues: CCC 1805-1811 (The four main natural virtues upon which all others “hinge”) [See LIST OF VIRTUES from Thomas Aquinas] The moral (human, cardinal) virtues are mainly acquired by human effort. They are the fruit of and seed for morally good actions. They dispose our powers of intellect, will, and passion for the Theological Virtues (communion with the Divine Love); they are in turn elevated and strengthened by the graced action of the H. Spirit in order to help us reach our supernatural goal. 1) Prudence (wisdom): sound judgment / “right reason in action.” = the habitual capacity to choose and act wisely in any given situation. The “charioteer” of the other virtues. Built on conscience, orders love creatively. [DIAGRAM of how conscience & prudence are related] 2) Justice: fairness and responsibility = the habitual capacity to give what is due to another (God and neighbor). Justice toward God = religion. The guardian of rights, the enforcer of duties. 3) Fortitude: personal toughness / courage = the habitual capacity to be steadfast for the good in face of difficulties. Includes patience & endurance, longsuffering & largesse. The basis for witness & martyrdom. 4) Temperance: self-control / moderation / balance = the habitual capacity to moderate our appetite for pleasure and to balance our use of material things (“balance” is relative to the moral law and to our personal weakness/strength—not necessarily to our desire).